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<\/p>\nThe World Sikh Organization of Canada say the shooting death of international student and former Brampton resident Birinder Singh (pictured) could have been a mate-motivated attack. (Photo: Retrieved from Facebook)<\/p>\n
The World Sikh Organization of Canada say the shooting death of international student and former Brampton resident Birinder Singh could have been a mate-motivated attack.<\/p>\n
Singh died in what the WSO is calling an \u201cunprovoked\u201d attack, where he was shot while driving near Leduc, south of Edmonton.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old international student had recently moved to Alberta from Brampton, and was reportedly on a road trip with friends on Highway 2 on the way to Banff when a Ford F-150 pulled alongside their vehicle.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when someone inside the truck opened fire, striking Singh in the neck, according to reports.<\/p>\n
The former Brampton resident managed to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. And while paramedics arrived to assist, Singh died of his injuries at the scene. The RCMP hasn\u2019t laid any charges in connection with Birinder\u2019s death, but say the grey 2022 Ford F-150 has since been recovered.<\/p>\n
The WSO says Singh \u201cwas beginning to establish his life in Canada,\u201d and called his death \u201ca sudden, unprovoked act of extreme violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cGiven the current rise in anti-Sikh hate we are seeing, it is critical that investigators and the RCMP examine whether Birinder Singh was targeted because of his Sikh identity,\u201d WSO President Danish Singh said in a release.<\/p>\n
Danish said Sikhs are being \u201crepeatedly targeted and demonized,\u201d including by white nationalist groups promoting anti-immigrant hate, and by \u201ccoordinated disinformation campaigns\u201d originating from India \u201cthat seek to vilify and dehumanize Sikhs in Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seeing a dramatic increase in poisonous and hateful narratives targeting Sikhs,\u201d Danish said, adding \u201cthis environment has created real risks for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen communities are repeatedly targeted and demonized, it increases the likelihood of acts of violence such as this. This must be taken seriously by law enforcement and government,\u201d Danish said.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: New bill improves public safety in Mississauga, Brampton and across Canada<\/a><\/p>\n Sikh and South Asian Canadians across the country have been the target of extortion in recent years, some leading to violence and shootings.<\/p>\n An internal RCMP report found the Indian-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang \u2013 recently declared a terrorist organization in Canada \u2013 is linked to extortion threats and murders in Canada, and is \u201cacting on behalf\u201d of the Indian government.<\/p>\n